2700 madrasas under Bihar State Madrasa Education Board will now be funded by the state government. The students can opt for professional courses; and will be given computers and laboratory facilities to benefit from quality education.

Patna: The Government of Bihar has decided to provide financial support to 2,700 unaided Islamic seminaries in the state.

The 2,700 madrassas are affiliated to the Bihar State Madrasa Education Board but have not been getting any financial aid from the government till now, reports IANS. Human Resource Development Principal Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh said that the state government has decided to provide financial aid to 2,700 madrassas.

"The government will provide financial aid to these madrassas. They are other than the 1,127 madrassas already receiving financial aid," Singh said. The Chief Minister announced the decision to provide financial aid to all madrassas affiliated to the board two days ago at a public meeting in Gopalganj district during his 'vishwash yatra' (confidence march).

According to board sources, Bihar has over 4,000 madrassas, including 1,127 state-run Islamic schools where the staff is paid by the government and students are provided free books and mid-day meal. There are more than 2,700 madrassas that are affiliated to the board but are not getting financial aid and manage their funds through donations, a board official said.

The board has already initiated several measures to modernise education in madrassas. It has introduced computers and laboratories in some seminaries. Some madrassas even encourage students to join the National Cadet Corps (NCC) or the Scouts and Guides.

It also plans to start several professional courses to provide opportunity to students to earn a living from occupations other than traditional Islamic teachers or Muslim priests.